Gemma Hillier

Gemma Hillier
Personal information
Date of birth (1987-10-18) 18 October 1987
Place of birth Gosport, England
Positions
Team information
Current team
 AFC Portchester
Number 16
Youth career
2000–2001 Gosport Borough
2001 Fulham
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2001–2017 Portsmouth 234+ (62+)
2020–2021 AFC Bournemouth 1 (0)
2023–2024 AFC Bournemouth 22 (5)
2024– AFC Portchester 36 (10)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 22:21, 23 August 2026 (UTC)

Gemma Hillier (born 18 October 1987)[1] is a footballer and former beach soccer player. She plays as a forward and midfielder for Southern Region Women’s Football League Premier Division club AFC Portchester.

She previously spent 17 years with Portsmouth,[2] becoming the club’s record appearance-maker and joint-record goalscorer,[3] and later captained AFC Bournemouth.[4]

Football career

Portsmouth

Hillier came through the academies of Gosport Borough and Fulham before joining Portsmouth in 2001 at the age of 13,[3] and during her time at the club, she played in the FA Women's Premier League and the Southern Premier League, while also winning the Hampshire County Cup fifteen times. While at Portsmouth, Hillier was offered the chance to join several of the top-league clubs, but she rejected these offers to continue playing at Portsmouth without payment.[2]

After captaining the club for eight years,[5] she last played against Coventry United in October 2017 before leaving the club in November 2017 after last being included in the matchday squad against Lewes.[3]

Officially, Hillier made 293 appearances while scoring 99 goals during her 17 years at the club;[2] The Football Association records 294 appearances and 90 goals since the 2004–05 season. Despite this, she scored her first nine goals before records began in September 2004.

AFC Bournemouth

After three years away from football, Hillier joined Southern Region Women’s Football League Premier Division AFC Bournemouth for only the 2020–21 season.[4] She left to spend two years as a teacher in Dubai before returning to AFC Bournemouth for the 2023–24 FA Women’s National League Division One South West season.[6][7]

She was the club captain at AFC Bournemouth during her second spell at the club,[7][8] and she left the club on 20 August 2024.[4]

AFC Portchester

Gemma Hillier joined Southern Region Women’s Football League Premier Division club AFC Portchester ahead of the 2024–25 season.[6] She scored 19 goals across her first two seasons with the club.[9][10]

Beach soccer career

After retiring from association football, Hillier has since represented England and Team GB at several beach soccer tournaments including the 2016 and 2017 Women's Euro Beach Soccer Cup and the 2019 World Beach Games[5] before retiring after reaching 21 caps.[1]

She played for Terrassa-Bonaire BSW as a forward with 6 goals in 30 matches for the club.[1]

Personal life and legacy

She is a school teacher.[3]

In 2018 she became the first Portsmouth Women player to be inducted into Portsmouth FC’s Hall of Fame.[11]

Career statistics

As of match played 24 May 2026
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup/Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Portsmouth[a] 2001–02 South West Combination Women’s Football League Appearance data unknown.
2002–03 South West Combination Women’s Football League Appearance data unknown.
2003–04[12] Premier League Southern Division Appearance data unknown.
2004–05[13] Premier League Southern Division 14 2 0 0 14 2
2005–06[14] Premier League Southern Division 13 2 0 0 13 2
2006–07[15] Premier League Southern Division 21 6 1 0 22 6
2007–08[16] Premier League Southern Division 20 3 2 1 22 4
2008–09[17] Premier League Southern Division 12 2 3 1 15 3
2009–10[18] Premier League Southern Division 7 0 2 0 9 0
2010–11[19] Premier League Southern Division 18 4 3 2 21 6
2011–12[20] Premier League Southern Division 21 12 2 0 23 12
2012–13[21] Premier League National Division 18 5 11 2 29 7
2013–14[22] Premier League Southern Division 20 5 10 10 30 15
2014–15[23] Premier League Southern Division 21 14 10 2 31 16
2015–16[24] Premier League Southern Division 21 2 6 3 27 5
2016–17[25] Premier League Southern Division 20 5 9 6 29 11
2017–18[26] Premier League Southern Division 8 0 1 1 9 1
Total 234 62 60 28 294 99[b]
AFC Bournemouth 2020–21[27] Southern Region Women’s Football League Premier Division 1 0 6 0 7 0
2023–24[9] National League Division One South West 22 5 4 1 28 6
Total 23 5 10 2 35 6
AFC Portchester 2024–25[28] Southern Region Women’s Football League Premier Division 18 8 10 6 28 14
2025–26[10] Southern Region Women’s Football League Premier Division 18 2 11 3 29 5
2026–27[29] Southern Region Women’s Football League Premier Division 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 36 10 21 9 57 19
Career total 293 77 91 38 388 124
  1. ↑ Detailed appearance and goal records are unavailable for the 2001–02, 2002–03, and 2003–04 seasons. Portsmouth credits Hillier with 293 appearances and 92 goals overall.[2]
  2. ↑ Nine goals scored across the 2001–02, 2002–03, and 2003–04 seasons.

Honours

Portsmouth

  • FA Women's/FAWNL Premier League Southern Division: 2011–12, 2014–15; runner-up: 2004–05, 2006–07
  • South West Combination Women’s Football League: 2002–03
  • Hampshire Senior Cup: 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17

AFC Bournemouth

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Gemma Hillier". Beach Soccer Worldwide.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Pompey Hall of Fame: Gemma Hillier". 7 March 2018. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Pompey star Hillier bows out with ultimate club accolade". Sent Her Forward. 26 November 2017. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 "Women's team skipper Hillier departs the Cherries". Association Football Club Bournemouth. 20 August 2024. Retrieved 23 August 2026.
  5. 1 2 "Gemma Hillier to represent Team GB at the World Beach Games Opening Ceremony". Team GB. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
  6. 1 2 "Hall of fame star Hillier looking to create another piece of history – this time with AFC Portchester". Association Football Club Portchester. 20 November 2025. Retrieved 23 August 2026.
  7. 1 2 "AFC Bournemouth women sign five new players". The Daily Echo. 15 August 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2026.
  8. ↑ "Hillier: Confidence is flying high ahead of run-in". Association Football Club Bournemouth. 19 April 2024. Retrieved 23 August 2026.
  9. 1 2 "GEMMA HILLIER Player Stats (2023–24)". The Football Association.
  10. 1 2 "GEMMA HILLIER Player Stats (2025–26)". The Football Association.
  11. ↑ "Portsmouth FC Website". Portsmouth FC.
  12. ↑ "GEMMA HILLIER Player Stats (2003–04)". The Football Association.
  13. ↑ "GEMMA HILLIER Player Stats (2004–05)". The Football Association. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  14. ↑ "GEMMA HILLIER Player Stats (2005–06)". The Football Association. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  15. ↑ "GEMMA HILLIER Player Stats (2006–07)". The Football Association. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  16. ↑ "GEMMA HILLIER Player Stats (2007–08)". The Football Association. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  17. ↑ "GEMMA HILLIER Player Stats (2008–09)". The Football Association. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  18. ↑ "GEMMA HILLIER Player Stats (2009–10)". The Football Association. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  19. ↑ "GEMMA HILLIER Player Stats (2010–11)". The Football Association. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  20. ↑ "GEMMA HILLIER Player Stats (2011–12)". The Football Association. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  21. ↑ "GEMMA HILLIER Player Stats (2012–13)". The Football Association. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  22. ↑ "GEMMA HILLIER Player Stats (2012–13)". The Football Association.
  23. ↑ "GEMMA HILLIER Player Stats (2014–15)". The Football Association. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  24. ↑ "GEMMA HILLIER Player Stats (2015–16)". The Football Association. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  25. ↑ "GEMMA HILLIER Player Stats (2016–17)". The Football Association. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  26. ↑ "GEMMA HILLIER Player Stats (2017–18)". The Football Association. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  27. ↑ "GEMMA HILLIER Player Stats (2020–22)". The Football Association.
  28. ↑ "GEMMA HILLIER Player Stats (2024–25)". The Football Association.
  29. ↑ "GEMMA HILLIER Player Stats (2026–27)". The Football Association.
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